Collections of Fersman Mineralogical Museum.

FERSMAN MUSEUM COLLECTIONS

All museum aquisitions since 1716 were divided at the begining of 20th century by academician V.I.Vernadskiy  to 5 main collections:

Systematic collection

Curently consist of more than 90000 items representing about 2400 mineral species (from 4000 species known in nature). Mineral specimens in this collection demonstrating diversity of mineral species by it constitution, morphology, physical properties, associations with other minerals. 

Crystal collection

More then 4800 crystals of minerals representing all crystal systems and most of space groups. Mineral specimens in this collection demonstrating different forms and their combinations, twinning laws, perfection and defection of  natural and man made crystals.

Locality collections

More than 31000 specimens representing genetic features, mineral association and ore types for more then 300 former Soviet Union deposits and couple dozen well known localities in other countries.

Pseudomorph collection

About 2200 mineral specimens. representing different kinds pseudomorphs and also different features of mineral growing and transformations in various conditions.

Gems and stone art collection

  Among 8000 items of this collection are gemstone rough, faceted gemstones, article made of stones. Rather big part of this section is Russian stone art of 18-20 centuries including about 30 items designed by famous Russian juvelir Karl Faberge.

Meteorite, tectite and impactite collection

The Museum meteorite collection had started from Pallas Iron (Krasnoyarsk) meteorite which was delivered to Museum in 1772 by academician P.S. Pallas (the Museum director that time). For next almost 200 years Museum meteorite collection grew to be the largest in Russia. Between 1935 and 1939 practically all that collection was reissued to a newly organized Meteoritic commission (later Committee on Meteorites) of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. However significant part of that collection including number of the meteorites collected after 1939 is on the permanent display in the Fersman Mineralogical Museum under curation of the meteoritic committee.

Since that the Museum scientific and exhibits requirements as well as a number of public and meteorite researches inquaries revealed the needs for Museum to have its own meteorite collection which was reestablished in 2007 as Meteorite, tectite and impactite collection of Fersman Mineralogical museum. Currently the new Museum collection includes 45 registered meteorites from around the world. It also includes 28 different (mostly rare ones) mineral species found in meteorites and cataloged as mineral species. The collection is also includes a number of tektites and impact rocks from the craters around the world.

 About 12000 items from all those collections displayed on permanent museum exhibits. Fersman Museum also providing temporary exhibits in Russia and abroad.

 Коллекции_Минералогического_Музея_им._А.Е._Ферсмана